Marcos Jr. offers DMW post to Toots Ople

Presumptive President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has offered the Cabinet position of leading the newly established Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to Susan "Toots" Ople, an advocate for overseas Filipino workers' (OFWs) rights.

Ople confirmed receiving the offer, describing her meeting with Marcos Jr. as warm and inspiring, where the urgency of operationalizing the new department to better serve OFWs was emphasized.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola stated that Ople would be a "very good appointment" and that the DMW would be "in very good hands" under her leadership, noting Ople's long-time advocacy and the partnership of the Blas Ople Center with the DFA, especially in trafficking cases.

Ople is currently undergoing a process of discernment and consultations regarding the offer, acknowledging the significant responsibilities and challenges associated with the role.

The law establishing the DMW was enacted in December of the previous year, and currently, the department is temporarily headed by Sec. Abdullah Mama-o.

Arriola reiterated that the deployment of OFWs remains under the Department of Labor and Employment until the requisites for the new department are complied with.